LAHORE (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan swapped their usual green for pink against England at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, as the Pakistan Cricket Board marked Breast Cancer Awareness Day during the ODI tri-series.
The PCB said the campaign, part of the global Pinktober awareness month, aims to encourage early detection, regular screening and timely treatment, and to raise awareness of the disease across Pakistan. England’s players, the match officials and the commentators wore pink ribbons in solidarity with patients and survivors, the stumps were branded pink, and the stadium carried pink graphics and branding.
A platform that reaches millions
PCB Director Commercial Ali Adnan Zaidi said cricket was a powerful platform for reaching millions of people, and that the initiative aimed to turn that reach into awareness and engagement. Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said the game’s huge following in Pakistan came with a responsibility to use its influence, according to the board’s statement.
Pink days on the cricket calendar
Pakistan have featured in pink-themed matches before, most often in South Africa’s annual Pink Day ODI at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where the home side wear pink. Fakhar Zaman made 193 in that fixture in 2021, though Pakistan lost by 17 runs, and Pakistan won it by 36 runs in 2024. Pakistan also held a pink day during last year’s T20I series against South Africa.
The Sydney Cricket Ground’s annual Pink Test raises funds for the McGrath Foundation, the cancer care charity set up by Glenn and Jane McGrath.
The series so far
Sunday’s match is Pakistan and England’s second meeting in the three-nation series, which also features Sri Lanka. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s side beat England by 87 runs in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. The top two teams meet in the final at the Gaddafi Stadium on October 31.
